Adjustable leverage claw hammer



June 30, 1953 R. w. JOHNSON 2,643,854

ADJUSTABLE LEVERAGE CLAW HAMMER Filed Aug. 24. 1951 IN VEN TOR. '64) III/JOHNSON Patented June 30, 1953 onus]:

ADJUSTABLE LEVERAGE CLAW'HAMMER Ray W. JohnsomSan Jose, Calif., assignor to Le Tourneau, Inc., Longview, Tex.

Application August 24, 1951, Ser'iatlNo. 243,560 g 6 Claims. I (01.254 26) This inventionrelates to a claw hammer with adjustable leverage. This application is a combination in part of application Serial No. 161,629, filed May 12, 1950, for Claw Hammer with Adjustable Leverage Fulcrum.

'The primary object of the invention is to provide a hammer which has on it an adjustable fulcrum member adapted'to beheld rigidly in its adfulcrum attachment onthe head of a claw hammer for adjusting the leverage of the hammer with respect to the claws in accordance with the length of the nails to be pulled, and to support said fulcrum member so that it straddles the head of the hammer and i positively held in adjusted position, but is easily released for varying the adjustment.

I am aware that some changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, aswell as in the details of the construction thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following specification, and as defined in the following claims; hence I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said device and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings'for the illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of the head of the hammer showing the fulcrum member in extended operative position.

3 s of Fig. 1. I

Fig.4 isa side viewof'the headof the hammer tion of the head of the hammer.

V the hammer head i.

showing the fulcrum member in collapsed position and showing a modified holding pivot for said attachment.

In the illustrative embodiment of my invention the head I of a hammer is provided with the usual handle 2. The head i ha the usual heel portion 3 and claw portion i. The top edge of the hammer is recessed to form a socket 6 to accommodate a fulcrum member? on the middle portion of the head I.

The fulcrum member I is of generallyU-shaped cross-section so that it straddles the middle por- The sides-or wings 8 extend. from the opposite side of aboaring surface or top 9. This top 9 is suitably curved to conform to thegeneral shape of the top of An arm ll extends from each wing 8 immediately adjacent to the top 9 toward the'heel-ii. A pivot pin i2 extends through the ends of the arms H and also through a slot or hole 13 adjacent the heel 3 of the hammer head i, which slot 13 is elongated generally from the-heel 3 toward the middle of the head 1. Thus the fulcrum member 1 is pivoted on a pivot I2 which can be shifted in the elongated slot I3 longitudinally with respect to the hammerhead I.

In each wing 8 of the fulcrum member 1 is a generally arcuate-slot M. The edge of each arouate slot l4 nearer to the free edge it of the Wing 8 is scalloped. The scalloped edge is formed by a series of spaced keeper notches H. A locking pin it is fixed in the hammer head and extends beyond the opposite sides of the hammer and into the respective slots [4 of the attachment wing 8. The holding pin it is in substantial axial alignment with the center of the pivot slot 13 so that as the attachment fulcrum member 1 is pulled toward the claws 4 its pivot I 2 slides in the elongated pivot slot [3 and thus the respective notch I! can be disengaged from the holding pin I8 allowing the swinging of the fulcrum member around until an adjusted selected position is reached and another keeper notch I! is brought opposite the holding pin l8. Thereupon the wing 8 is shifted so that the pivot l2 returns to the initial position shown in Fig. 1 and the selective notch I1 is thus :pulled into engagement with the holding pin 18 to hold the fulcrum member I in the selected adjusted position.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 means are provided to 'prevent the accidental releasing 'of'the fulcrum member '1 in the form of an abutment pin [9 adjacent the outer edge 16 of one of the wings 8. This abutment pin 59 is slidable in a socket 21in theside of the hammer adjacent said wing 8. The outer end of the pin I9 is reduced in diameter so as to form a shoulder 22. A coil spring 23 inside of the socket 2i normally urges the pin I9 outwardly of said socket or hole 21. The socket or hole 2| and the pin I9 are so spaced from the outer end of the pivot slot I3 that the distance is shorter than the distance between the fulcrum pin I2 and the outer edge I6 of the attachment wing 8. Thus the attachment wing 8 projects over the shoulder 22 of the abutment pin I9 and prevents the accidental removal of said abutment pin I9. At the same time the reduced projecting end of the abutment pin I9 prevents the shifting of the fulcrum member 'I relatively to the elongated fulcrum slot I3.

In order to adjust the fulcrum member I as heretofore described it is necessary in this form to depress the abutment pin I9 against the action of the coil spring 23 until the reduced projecte ing end of the pin I9 is concealed within the socket 2| leaving the fulcrum member I free for shifting longitudinally relatively to the notch I3 and out of engagements with the holding pin I8. After the fulcrum member I is adjusted. to a new position, the abutment pin I9 is released and its shoulder abuts against the underside of the adjacent wing 8. The reduced end or projecting portion of the pin I9 engages the outer edge It of said wing 8 and thus holds the fulcrum member 1 against shifting on the hammer head I.

The modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 includes the fulcrum member I, the holding pin I8, the pivot pin l2 and the elongated pivot slot I3 but it eliminates the abutment pin I9. A ,coil spring 26 in the elongated pivot slots l3 bears against an end of said slot I3 and against the pivot pin I2 so as to normally urge the pivot pin I2 outwardly toward the heel 3 of the hammer head I and thus to normally urge the aligned keeper notch I1 into engagement with the holding pin I8. member I can be pulled against the action of the coil spring I3 so that the fulcrum I2 thereof is shifted toward the claws of the hammer head I until the keeper notch I1 is disengaged from the holding pin I8 and then the fulcrum member I is adjusted to th desired angle and another selected notch I'! is allowed to snap over the holding pin I8 under the action of the coil spring 26 in the elongated slot I3. 7

I claim:

1. In combination a claw hammer, a heel at one end thereof, claws at the other end thereof, said claw hammer having a hole therethrough adjacent said heel extending from one face to the other face of said hammer head, said hole being elongated from said heel toward the middle of said hammer head, a fulcrum member, a pivot of said fulcrum member being slidable in said elongated hole, said fulcrum member including a bearing top generally conforming to the contour of the hammer head, a pair of spacedwings extended from said top over the opposite sides of the hammer head, each of said wings having an arcuate slot the arc of which is generally centered about the fulcrum of said fulcrum member, a plurality of keeper notches on the edge of said slot farthest from said fulcrum; an engagement pin extended through said hammer head and projecting beyond the opposite sides thereof and being generaly longitudinally aligned with the fulcrum hole, and being adapted to be engaged by a selected keeper notch in said arcuate slot to prevent the pivoting of said ful- In this form the fulcrum crum member; and resiliently yieldable means to hold said fulcrum member in engagement with said engagement pin. 7

2. In combination a claw hammer, a heel at one end thereof, claws at the other end thereof, said claw hammer having a hole therethrough adjacent said heel extending from one face to the other face of said hammer head, said hole being elongated from said heel toward the middle of said hammer head, a fulcrum member, a pivot of said fulcrum member being slidable in said elongated hole, said fulcrum member including a bearing top generally conforming to the contour of the hammer head, a pair of spaced wings extended from said top over the opposite sides of the hammer head, each of said wings having an arcuate slot the arc of which is generally center'ed about the fulcrum of said fulcrum mem ber,.a plurality of keeper notches on the edge of said slot farthest from said fulcrum; an engagement pin extended through said hammer head and projecting beyond the opposite sides thereof and being generally longtudinally aligned with the fulcrum hole, and being adapted to be engaged by a selected keeper notch in said arcuate slot to prevent the pivoting of said fulcrum member; and resiliently yieldable means to hold said fulcrum member in engagement with said engagement pin, said resiliently yieldable means including a socket in a side of the hammer head adjacent the outer edge of one of said wings, an abutment element slidable in said socket, a spring within the socket normally urging said abut-ment element outwardly toward the adjacent wing, a shoulder on said abutment element extended under the adjacent wing to limit its outward movement, and an extension at said shoulder engaged by the outer edge of said wing to prevent shifting of the fulcrum member with respect to said pivot hole.

3. In combination a claw hammer, a heel at one end thereof, claws at the other end thereof, said claw hammer having a hole therethrough adjacent said heel extending from one face to the other face of said hammer head, said hole being elongated from said heel toward the middle of said hammer head, a fulcrum member, a pivot of said fulcrum member being slidable in said elongated hole, said fulcrum member including a' bearing top generally conforming to the contour of the hammer head, a pair of spaced wings extended from said top over the hole, and being adapted to be engaged by a selected keeper notch in said arcuate slot to prevent the pivoting of said fulcrum member; and resiliently yieldable means to hold said fulcrum member in engagement with said engagement pin,

saidresiliently yieldable means including a coil spring in said elongated pivot hole for resiliently pressing said fulcrum pivot against the end of said hole adjacent the heel of the hammer head.

l. A fulcrum attachment device for the head of a claw hammer having a heel at one end and claws at the other end thereof, comprising a fulcrum member having a curved bearing base generally fitting over the top of the hammer head, a pair of wings extended from said base for straddling the hammer head between said heel and said claws, a pair of arms extended from said wings, said hammer head having a hole adjacent the heel thereof extending transversely through the opposite faces of the hammer head and being elongated toward the middle of the hammer head, a pivot element extended through said arms and through said hole to pivot said fulcrum member, each wing having an arcuate slot therethrough the arc of which is generally centered about said pivot element, a plurality of keeper notches spaced on the edge of the slot farthest from said pivot element, a holding pin extended through said hammer head between the center of said hammer head and the claws and being generally aligned with said elongated hole and fitting into the respective keeper notches, and resiliently yieldable means to hold a selective keeper notch in engagement with said holding pin.

5. A fulcrum attachment device for the head of a claw hammer having a heel at one end and claws at the other end thereof, comprising a fulcrum member having a curved bearing base generally fitting over the top of the hammer head, a pair of wings extended from said base for straddling the hammer head between said heel and said claws, a pair of arms extended from said wings, said hammer head having a hole adjacent the heel thereof extending transversely through the opposite facesof the hammer head and being elongated toward the middle of the hammer head, a pivot element extended through said arms and through said hole to pivot said fulcrum member.

each wing having an arcuate slot therethrough the arc of which is generally centered about said pivot element, a plurality of keeper notches spaced on the edge of the slot farthest from said pivot element, a holding pin extended through said hammer head between the center of said hammer head and the claws and being generally aligned with said elongated hole and fitting into the respective keeper notches, and resiliently yieldable means to hold a selective keeper notch in engagement with said holding pin, said last means including a socket in one side of the hammer head adjacent the claws, an abutment pin slidable in the socket, a spring to normally urge the abutment pin outwardly toward the adjacent wing of the fulcrum member, a reduced projecting end on said abutment pin extending against the outer edge of the adjacent wing to prevent its movement with respect to said elongated hole, the said abutment pin being adapted to be concealed when pressed into said socket to allow the shifting of the fulcrum member with respect to said elongated hole for disengaging the keeper notch from the holding pin and adjusting the angle of said fulcrum member.

6. A fulcrum attachment device for the head of a claw hammer having a heel at one end and claws at the other end thereof, comprising a fulcrum member having a curved bearing base generally fitting over the top of the hammer head, a pair of wings extended from said base for straddling the hammer head between said heel and said claws, a pair of arms extended from said wings, said hammer head having a hole adjacent the heel thereof extending transversely through the opposite faces of the hammer head and being elongated toward the middle of the hammer head, a pivot element extended through said arms and through said hole to pivot said fulcrum member, each wing having an arcuate slot therethrough the arc of which is generally centered about said pivot element, a plurality of keeper notches spaced on the edge of the slot farthest from said pivot element, a holding pin extended through said hammer head between the center of said hammer head and the claws and being generally aligned with said elongated hole and fitting into the respective keeper notches, and resiliently yieldable means to hold a selective keeper notch in engagement with said holding pin, said resilient means comprising a spring between said pivot element and the end of the hole nearer the middle of the hammer head for resiliently urging the pivot element and the fulcrum member toward the heel of the hammer References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Maclure Mar. 24, 1925 Number 

